Navigating Uncertainty: An Analysis of the Settlement Process of Ukrainian female refugees in Denmark
Authors
Lass, Amanda ; Parvanova-Bakalova, Aleksia Pavlova
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-01-31
Pages
86
Abstract
This thesis examines how highly skilled Ukrainian female refugees in Denmark experience and navigate their settlement process in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the EU’s activation of the Temporary Protection Directive alongside Denmark’s Special Act. Using an inductive qualitative design, we conducted five semi-structured interviews and analyzed them with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis is informed by Honneth’s Theory of Recognition, Bourdieu’s forms of capital, aspirations-capabilities perspectives (Appadurai and de Haas), and Jenkins’ Social Identity Theory. Findings indicate that strong social solidarity and a welcoming reception in Danish society fostered a sense of belonging and supported participants’ aspirations. At the same time, prolonged bureaucratic procedures and a lack of individualized approaches within the integration apparatus posed significant obstacles. Social networks, English proficiency, and personal aspirations emerged as key facilitators of settlement and access to opportunities, while participants strategically sought to convert and validate their cultural and symbolic capital in the new context. The study also shows that social identity shapes aspiration processes. Overall, the research offers insights that can inform more targeted and inclusive support mechanisms for refugees in Denmark.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan højtkvalificerede ukrainske kvindelige flygtninge i Danmark oplever og navigerer deres bosætningsproces i kølvandet på Ruslands invasion af Ukraine og den efterfølgende EU-aktivering af TPD samt den danske særlov. Med udgangspunkt i en induktiv, kvalitativ tilgang gennemførte vi fem semistrukturerede interviews, som blev analyseret ved hjælp af Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Analysen er informeret af Honneths anerkendelsesteori, Bourdieus kapitalbegreb, aspiration-capabilities-tilgange (Appadurai og de Haas) og Jenkins’ social identitetsteori. Resultaterne peger på, at den stærke sociale solidaritet og imødekommende modtagelse i det danske samfund har skabt en følelse af tilhørsforhold og understøttet deltagernes aspirationer. Samtidig oplevede de væsentlige barrierer i form af langstrakte bureaukratiske processer og en mangel på individuel tilgang i integrationsapparatet. Sociale netværk, engelskkundskaber og personlige ambitioner fungerede som centrale facilitatorer for bosætning og adgang til muligheder, mens deltagerne strategisk forsøgte at konvertere og validere deres kulturelle og symbolske kapital i den nye kontekst. Studiet viser desuden, at social identitet påvirker aspirationsprocesserne. Samlet bidrager undersøgelsen med indsigt, der kan styrke mere målrettede og inkluderende støttemekanismer for flygtninge i Danmark.
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Keywords
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Lass, Amanda:
Parvanova-Bakalova, Aleksia Pavlova: